days aways

Whew. I envisioned we would go to the beach and then to the pool and then to the beach and then to the pool, and that's exactly what we did for four full days.  These kids know how to have a blast, and I'm so thankful for their adventuresome spirits that make anything exciting.

We swam with a wild manatee (once we realized it was NOT a shark and got back in) we saw loads of dolphins, watched pelican's hunt fish all around us, caught crabs and fish and clams, swam and explored and rode the waves, and invented every pool game known to man.

So thankful for a few days away to drop the schedule and throw away the plates and to rest, and for a nice empty beach and a tiny, cheap airbnb four hours from Jackson.

August 17th Wesley begins their new academic year...Matt is teaching a class on Thursday evenings and they have a record enrollment this fall! In order to meet the needs of a lot of men and women already in full time ministry, both in Mississippi, and around the US, and in Mexico and Kenya and around the globe, WBS has been specializing in the online education thing for a long time...which is kind of the thing right now, isn't it :) 

August 31st Emmaus begins their new academic year in Haiti...the government is just now allowing schools to open, so we are praying for open doors for several hurdles!  

The girls and I start a new school year this week, too, with Lily in 6th, Sofie in 4th and Nora starting Kindergarten, and their Friday Program (a once-a-week enrichment program for homeschooled kids!) begins September 11th.  The 12th is WBS Graduation and Matt's official inauguration service, then he heads North to the New Jersey for several speaking engagements and we may or may not join him. We are ANXIOUS to see some of our NJ/DE/PA people...and also aren't sure if we're up for a 19 hour road trip right now.  Then Matt gets back and heads to Mexico for Wesley's Mexico cohort graduation, and then, Lord willing, the Ayars head to Emmaus for a week or two to support and encourage our brothers and sisters there, to spend time with some of the people we didn't even get to say goodbye to, and to collect and share more of the stories of what God is doing there!  

Whew. Thankful for these few days to pause and reboot as we head into such a busy season.

Keep on praying we can find and settle into a church, pray for wisdom and courage as so many mission opportunities are arising and we try to seek His guidance on where and how to get involved, and pray for the relationships our family is building...that we continue find and deepen good, healthy Christ-centered relationships, and that we continue to find and deepen good mission-field relationships.  

We are more convinced than ever that relationships -- in person, transparent, true and faithful -- are the vehicle for bringing Christ into people's lives...the one cause that matters, now and always.